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These are our picks for the top driving gloves, with a few suggestions from the experts at Autoweek, Road & Track, and Car and Driver.

Driving gloves have a history of being an essential piece of everyday driving, up until the last 60 years or so. Autoweek's West Coast editor, Mark Vaughn, explains: "They used to be necessary back when wrestling kickback through the steering wheel was considered part of the art of driving, but cars and front-end systems are so good now that gloves are not really necessary."

While you do need certified racing gloves to get into racing, normal driving gloves are just for show. In this case, the show is pretty cool. A new pair of slick motorsport mittens can make you feel like you're tearing through the Italian countryside or enjoying a throwback cruise down a coastal road.

We think anything that helps you enjoy driving is worth having, and a good pair of driving gloves certainly has its aesthetic benefits. So even though you aren't muscling a giant wooden steering wheel along a windy road, there's nothing wrong with feeling like you are. Throw a pair on and see for yourself!

Driving Shoes to Buy, Recommended by Hearst Autos Staffers

These gloves are perfect for those teeth-chattering first minutes in the car during the dead of winter. Nobody likes holding a cold steering wheel.

If warmth is your goal, take a look at these old-school-style wool pop top mittens from Hot Shot. One of our editors recommended them, and noted the leather padding on the palm to be helpful when cruising. The pop top function can be handy when navigating a touch screen—a necessity in cars these days. 

These gloves aren't exactly marketed towards driving, but they should be. They're lightweight and feature silica beads on the palms to add some grip at the wheel. They're built to be warm with wind and waterproof features so you can use them outdoors, too. If anything, these would be a great choice for those first frigid 10 minutes in your car while the heat rumbles to life.

These sharp-looking hand warmers are made with polyurethane leather and wool for a nice toasty choice. Alepo also claims that all of the fingers will work on a touchscreen, which is a very nice feature. If you're looking for affordable warmth and a classy driving style, these are for you. 

These gloves from Elma are widely regarded as one of the best choices in its price range. Constructed with hairsheep leather, it's built to be flexible and durable over time. There are two different options for interior material: cashmere and fleece. Cashmere is typically softer and warmer, while fleece is more durable. Either way, these gloves bring excellent style and warmth at a reasonable price. 

Whether you want to channel your inner vintage racer or just look classy in the McDonald's drive-through, these stylish driving gloves will make you feel like you own the road.

These driving gloves from Pratt and Hart are a great no-fluff, minimalistic driving glove that gets the job done. These feature plenty of ventilation holes and touchscreen-compatible pads on the thumb and pointer fingers. They're designed to fit snugly with the snap of a button and an elasticized wrist strap. 

If you're looking for a quality pair of driving gloves that won't break the bank, these mitts from Riparo hit the sweet spot. They're handmade with reverse-stitched genuine leather, so they're assembled to last. There are a ton of different colors to choose from, so you'll be able to match your ride's vibe easily. 

Café Leather takes great pride in their leather selection process, and this transitions to their driving gloves flawlessly. The Tritons are their icon, and for good reason: they're modeled after the classic racing gloves of old. For a more personal touch, Café Leather claims that the leather will evolve over time creating a unique patina—we think that's pretty neat. 

The stringback design is historical, dating back to the wooden steering wheel days of the 1950s and 1960s. Autodromo has replicated this well, creating driving gloves with genuine sheep leather and a cotton crochet back. You'll definitely want to measure your hand for the best fit, as Autodromo says they're meant to feel 'poured on'. 

Safety is the most important thing on the racetrack, and gloves that are up to regulations are essential. Check out these options, which were all recommended by track-loving members of the Hearst Autos staff.

The Land is Sparco's entry-level racing glove, coming in at an affordable price while earning FIA and SFI approval. They're a great recommendation for budget-conscious racers and track day shenanigans, as one of our editors suggested. To aid in performance, the palm features new suede anti-slip grips with reinforced stitching.

These racing gloves are another great option for entry-level track use, and are also SFI and FIA approved. Alpinestars crammed a bunch of technology into these for a good price, including silicon printed grips on the palm and fingers, heat transfer logos for lighter weight, and an aramidic fiber main shell for high levels of protection against flames and heat. And as a bonus? They're FIA 8856-2018 approved, the newest standard of protection. 

OMP has made quality racing safety apparel since the 1980s, and that experience has transitioned to the present day. These racing gloves from the Italian company are a bit above entry-level, and were recommended by one of our editors. Featuring internal seams and high-grip silicon rubber pads, they're comfortable and excel at the wheel.

Another set of OMP gloves has made the list, and seem to be popular with our track-day staff. They're quite similar to the OMP First-S gloves, but with one large improvement: they're FIA 8856-2018 approved, which is the new benchmark for racing apparel safety. They're a bit on the pricey side, but if you want uncompromising safety, these are worth the consideration.